Signature analysis of the Gateway Arch monument in St. Louis using TerraSAR-X staring spotlight mode data

Abstract

The analysis of radar image data is a challenge due to sensor specific effects mainly caused by its range based coordinate system, the slanted imaging geometry and multi-path propagation of the backscattered signal. Espe-cially man-made objects in urban areas exhibit a very distinctive backscattering behavior due to the complexity of its shape. Even the increasing spatial resolution of current synthetic aperture radars (SAR) like TerraSAR-X cannot eliminate these physical phenomena. To illustrate the very complex scattering mechanisms that can hin-der radar image interpretation, signatures of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis are analyzed in this paper. The Arch features an extraordinary shape causing radar signatures that are particularly hard to understand. In this paper sophisticated techniques in SAR image processing coupled with simulated SAR signatures are used, to improve image interpretation and understanding of the underlying scattering mechanisms. For that purpose, current high resolution image data of the TerraSAR-X satellite operating in staring spotlight mode are being used.